BASE FJC
We teach you everything you need to jump safely back home, on your own or with other jumpers.
Learn to BASE jump
BASE First Jump Course
If you want to learn to BASE jump, our First Jump Course (FJC) is the place to start. Over six days in the south of France you get ground school, your first jumps with instructors beside you, and a club to keep jumping with afterwards.
Course Structure & Timeline
Total duration: 6 days (weather permitting).
Slider-Down
- Scenic and safe jumps. Most of your jumps are from a 500-foot bridge with a big grass landing area, a forgiving place to build skills and confidence.
- Personalised instruction. With 3 instructors and a maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio, you get plenty of one-on-one coaching at your own pace.
- Skill-focused training. We focus on slider-down jumps, which cover the most common situations you’ll meet in BASE.
Sub-Terminal Slider-Up
An introduction to slider-up jumping off the Millau Viaduct, Europe’s largest bridge, at about 950 ft.
Subject to progression on the course and weather conditions.
What you’ll learn
The syllabus covers:
- PCA (Pilot Chute Assist)
- Static line
- Hand-held and stowed deployments
- Malfunction handling and object avoidance
- Weather and site evaluation
- Canopy control and landing accuracy
- Mindset, ethics, and the culture of BASE jumping
Prerequisites & Requirements
What you need before you start:
- Qualified skydivers. 100+ skydives.
- Paragliders and speed flyers. Contact us to talk through your experience and our alternative training pathway.
- Gear. BASE gear rental is included in the course fee for the duration of the course. You can use your own if you have it, subject to LMSD safety inspection.
- Packing. No prior experience needed. Basic knowledge of sports parachute packing would be advantageous.
Course Details
- Duration. 6 days total.
- Coach ratio. Maximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio.
- Includes. Your own FJC handbook and packing guide, video analysis of every jump, full site briefings, and help with local logistics.
- Not included. Travel, accommodation and meals.
A Note on Intensity & Safety
This is a demanding programme, and we progress at your pace. If the weather or your progress needs more time, we adapt. Safety and solid fundamentals come before ticking boxes or chasing jump numbers.
Not sure if you’re ready? Get in touch and we’ll go through your experience with you and give you an honest assessment.
Why Choose LMSD?
LMSD is a club as well as a school. We’re not in it to get rich teaching BASE, and a lot of our time and income goes back into keeping members jumping and progressing.
- Community. Finish the FJC and you join a group of active jumpers to keep jumping with as you progress.
- Ongoing Support. We’re still around after the course, with advice as you take on new jumps.
- Lifetime Perks. Join the LMSD club for access to equipment, jump information, and unlimited free participation in future FJCs to refresh your skills.
- Passion-Driven. Our instructors love the sport and sharing what they know, and want every jump you make to be as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Join Us
Our FJC gives you the skills and knowledge to start BASE jumping safely, on your own or with a crew back home. And with the LMSD club behind you, you’ll always have people to jump with and learn from.
What FJC students say
Read the full review by Steve B.“I cannot recommend LMSD enough. Not only for their support and constant safety briefings, but also the lifelong friendships I’ve made along the way.”
Steve B.
Via Instagram
Read the full review by Adrian C.“Having completed the course, I feel competent, confident, and proficient to jump without instruction. This is what the team wanted to achieve. I write this while still attempting to reconcile what is - to me - a life changing experience, with everyday life. I cannot express my level of satisfaction with the team and the course; any superlative will be an understatement. Highest recommendation.”
Adrian C.
Via Email
Read the full review by Luke P.“Arguably the best experience of my life so far and I genuinely could not recommend them enough to anyone who is thinking about getting into BASE. These guys have clearly put a lot of time and effort into developing a course which is fully comprehensive from start to finish.”
Luke P.
Via WhatsApp
Intro Jump
Not sure if BASE is for you? Get that first jump before committing.
£150
- All gear provided
- Full brief & de-brief
- Video provided
- UK jump
First Jump Course
Learn to BASE jump in the south of France.
£1,750
- Everything you need to start BASE
- A week in the South of France
- Gear provided if needed
- T-Shirt and BASE goodies
- 12 months of free club membership
Ready to take the leap?
Tell us about your experience and what you’re after, and we’ll be in touch to help plan your first jumps.
Frequently asked questions
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, drop us an email team@letsmakestupiddecisions.com or find us on Instagram @letsmakestupiddecisions.
What is an FJC?
This means First Jump Course but it does not mean just your first jump. An FJC should get you ready to jump basic objects on your own, ready to go back home and progress.
Do I need 200 jumps to start BASE?
Whilst nearly every FJC or mentor requires a minimum of 200 we also know many of them take students with much less. We do not have a set number of jumps but look for a minimum skill set instead. We like to know what you have done previously, where your strengths and weaknesses are and then either tailor the course to you or suggest further skill development first. Talk to us.
I do not skydive but have done other air sports. Can I start BASE?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: it depends, with limitations. An experienced paragliding pilot for example can be taught Slider Down BASE jumping, and we have done this but it depends on the individual. Talk to us, we will do our best to help you.
What happens if there is bad weather on the full course?
Unfortunately the weather is out of our control but the course is held in the south of France so even though the weather is not guaranteed, it is one of the most promising areas of Europe for good weather with a good selection of jumps. The weather forecast is continually monitored before the course and we will stay in contact with students regarding this.
Do I need my own equipment?
It would be very beneficial to have your own equipment (we will advise on purchasing if unsure) but it is not essential. We have a number of rigs available for you to use at no extra charge throughout the course.
If using LMSD gear what happens if there is any damage caused?
The student pays for the repair cost that has to be carried out to the gear by our trusted rigger.
While on the course what happens regarding travel from/to the airport and all travel while on the course?
Before the course all students will be asked who would like transport, the students on the course split all travel costs of the hire car, car hire/insurance/fuel/tolls etc. For example if we have 3 instructors and 6 students then transport cost divide by 9.
What happens regarding food on the course?
Students are required to buy their own food and drink on the trip.
Can I wear my camera on the course?
For many of the jumps you will be able to wear your camera but there may be some jumps and weather conditions when we ask you to remove it for safety. We would advise bringing a chest mount as well as this offers more opportunities to use your camera. We will video every jump for you so there will be plenty of footage.